Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society Committed to heritage that is inclusive, diverse, & representative of communities past & present.

Vancouver Island Local History Society’s Mission:
- To promote, encourage, and engage the study of local and regional history within the communities of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
- To develop and support local history initiatives that take a critical and exploratory approach to Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations.
- To develop and support projects that are inclusive, diverse, and r

epresentative of communities in the past and present.
- To act as a facilitator of local efforts that build relationships between organizations and communities and situate history as a foundational or key element

05/25/2026

The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab explores the history and legacy of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway land grant of the 1880s. In exchange for building a railway across the island, nearly two million acres of land were transferred to private ownership. Much of this land had supported First Nations communities for thousands of years. Today, these lands are still largely held by private forestry companies and investors, shaping how land is used and treaty negotiations unfold.

This travelling exhibit looks at what happened, who was affected, and why the story still matters today. Through video, archival photographs, maps, and interpretive displays, visitors can explore how colonial land policies reshaped Vancouver Island and continue to influence communities, forests, and land rights today. The exhibit invites visitors to ask questions about property, responsibility, and the future of these lands.

See The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab travelling exhibit, now on tour!

05/25/2026

Dans les années 1880, la Colombie-Britannique et le Canada ont cédé à la compagnie ferroviaire Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway Company près de 2 millions d'acres de terres, ainsi que des fonds et des droits d'exploitation des ressources, en échange de la construction d'une ligne de chemin de fer. Cette vidéo présente aux spectateurs l'histoire et l'héritage de cette «grande prise de terres»

Découvrez l'exposition itinérante actuellement en tournée : TheGreatLandGrab.ca

The VILHS and its partners have been working hard over the last two years to bring you a brand new traveling exhibition....
04/27/2026

The VILHS and its partners have been working hard over the last two years to bring you a brand new traveling exhibition. Stay tuned for our launch date announcement!

The Vancouver Island Local History Society stands in solidarity with strikers, including those at the Royal BC Museum ...
09/08/2025

The Vancouver Island Local History Society stands in solidarity with strikers, including those at the Royal BC Museum and BC Archives. Please do not cross their picket lines.

The Vancouver Island Local History Society and the Nanaimo Museum are currently developing The Great Vancouver Island La...
02/07/2025

The Vancouver Island Local History Society and the Nanaimo Museum are currently developing The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab, a travelling exhibit that explores the history and ongoing impact of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway land grants on Vancouver Island. We are looking for First Nations illustrators/artists to help bring this story to life. Please see the application requirements through our website
Application deadline: 4:00 pm PST on February 28, 2025

The Vancouver Island Local History Society has officially joined Bluesky! We have some exciting news coming in the next ...
01/27/2025

The Vancouver Island Local History Society has officially joined Bluesky! We have some exciting news coming in the next few weeks, so be sure to follow us there or stay tuned to this page 🌲
https://bsky.app/profile/vilocalhistory.bsky.social

🪦THIS SUNDAY🪦The O'Reilly Social Network Tour is back!On this tour, historian Kelly Black will examine stories of member...
09/09/2024

🪦THIS SUNDAY🪦
The O'Reilly Social Network Tour is back!
On this tour, historian Kelly Black will examine stories of members of the upper class O’Reilly family, their neighbours, friends and business associates. Peter O’Reilly is often portrayed as a pillar of the community in Victorian society, but there is also a controversial side to his career that will be discussed.
Tours at Ross Bay Cemetery start at 2pm at the cemetery entrance on Fairfield Road, opposite the south end of Stannard Street. No reservations needed. Charge: $5 for non-members; $2 for members https://oldcem.bc.ca/tour/

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Victoria, BC

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